2026 Healthy Living

[jampss]

Yes! @sweetpumkinpye Get checked!

In about 2011, I had a BBC right between my eyes and had Curettage and Electrodessication done. Then it came back and I goofed around too long and in 2016, it was Mohs and it was bad enough to need a skin graft from my neck! And then radiation right between my eyes every day for 6 weeks. Then in 2023, a little patch showed up on my stomach and I went right in and got it looked at and yes, BCC and it was Excisional Surgery.

 

[Ahorsesoul]

Can anyone suggest how to keep the water level up through Winter? I need to hydrate but find drinking water just so chilling and really not pleasant. Summer is no problem I can drink litres of water.

Our bodies know how to remove water from what we drink so drink what you enjoy minus the caffeine if you avoid it. Broth is good to get water into you during the winter. Eating fruits/veggies high in water Is good. It really does not have to be plain water. Anything that is liquid at room temperature so even eating ice cream can count as water intake. 1 cup of ice cream counts as 1/2 cup fluid intake. A gallon of ice cream could cause other problems beside making you freeze. Highly dehydrated people are encouraged to get any fluid into them anyway possible. So even soups in any season count towards your water intake. 2 cups of broth count as just under 2 cups of fluid. A cup of coffee counts as 1 cup of fluid intake. The mild diuretic effect from caffeine is not strong enough to offset the hydration it provides. Drink de-caffeine if you’d like. Now if you are drinking several gallons of regular coffee you will be hydrated but suffer caffeine overload. I do not stress about how much plain water I drink but do keep an eye on the amount of fluid I take in. DD has to increase her fluid intake since she is on Mounjaro. With our Caribou drink (32 oz cup with 130mg caffeine so way below a normal caffeine intake) we split it in half for a day but only put 2 to 3 ounces into our 28 ounces bottle and fill with water. So 16oz gives us at least 5 full 28 oz bottles or 140 oz that we drink before 3 pm. Then we drink either water plain (28 oz water bottle) or with an oz or two of cranberry juice or lemon. No ice is added so it’s all fluid. Plus we drink a breakfast shake made with 28 oz of water before we start our Caribou) So we get at least 168 oz of fluid with our breakfast and our Caribou drink. Our rule is when you get a refill you have to head for the bathroom.lol The key to diluting your drinks is not to taste it full strength. I like espresso so diluting my coffee struck terror to my heart but it isn’t so bad.

 

[AnnieClaus]

I will say- the more I drink water, the more I want water.

 

[jampss]

Wow! @Ahorsesoul That is some good ideas.

 

[jampss]

I looked back on my June 3rd notes here ...
* Limit sugar
* Limit carbs, at least especially simple ones
* Get steps in and or also ride the stationary bike

And I have been doing good and am down a pound or two. Woot! Mostly, I am feeling less bloaty, so that's my goal really.

 

[jampss]

Well, gosh ... six months of 2026 is in the past. I feel I have been doing pretty well. Cutting down the carbs/sugar, drinking the water, and moving the body ... steps/stationary bike. Sleep is still a thing ... good some nights and other night quite interrupted. Like last night, the power went out briefly and the back up batteries on things around the house go to beeping!! It's 1 am and then again 3:30 am.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Great to hear!

I have been getting in 10K steps, 6 days a week, for the most part. Travel days I get less steps in. My water intake has not been as good for the last few weeks. I need to change that. Heat and humidity will help with that!

 

[jampss]

Awesome to hear!

 

[AnnieClaus]

I did pretty well with my June, "Create your own Health Challenge."

Going to Vegas kind of hosed it up but such is life.

I decided to keep the same goals throughout the rest of the summer.

I really want to work on consistency and cementing habits. Then when I have these ones down, I need to THEN add things.

Talked to my friend in Vegas and we talked about the fact that I actually don't eat enough throughout the day.
I told him it had been bad while we were implementing the new system. There were many days (many, many) where I didn't eat a thing until late afternoon. So we talked about me eating every couple of hours to keep my metabolism churning and working.
Snacks like: a handful of nuts, a cup of cottage cheese, a rice cake with peanut butter. And snacks that help with fiber. That type of stuff.

Annie

 

[Miss JoDee]

alked to my friend in Vegas and we talked about the fact that I actually don't eat enough throughout the day.
I told him it had been bad while we were implementing the new system. There were many days (many, many) where I didn't eat a thing until late afternoon. So we talked about me eating every couple of hours to keep my metabolism churning and working.
Snacks like: a handful of nuts, a cup of cottage cheese, a rice cake with peanut butter. And snacks that help with fiber. That type of stuff.

This has been my issue too. This week I am doing protein shakes for breakfast and lunch and eating light for dinner. Since I am at DD's, it is the easiest right now. Next week, I will return to eating six small meals a day. This is what works for me. I need to make sure I have all that I need on hand and choose the food over what DH wants to eat. I do need to find a safe low cal item as a go to for the sweet tooth.

 

[jampss]

Good sounding plans @AnnieClaus and @Miss JoDee . My go to is cottage cheese - savory or sweet … chia seeds or Pepitas or sunflower seeds. Or frozen blueberries.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

This has been my issue too. This week I am doing protein shakes for breakfast and lunch and eating light for dinner. Since I am at DD's, it is the easiest right now. Next week, I will return to eating six small meals a day. This is what works for me. I need to make sure I have all that I need on hand and choose the food over what DH wants to eat. I do need to find a safe low cal item as a go to for the sweet tooth.

I have half cup containers with lids that I mix in non-fat Greek Yogurt with a bit of jam or a bit of other "sugared" non-fat Greek Yogurt. Then I put it in the freezer for my treat. I will also portion out grapes, blueberries, sliced strawberries and sliced bananas in half cup servings and freeze them too. I have also blended cottage cheese and mixed it together with melted chocolate chips. I poured it out on a lined pan and flash froze it. Then I broke it into tiny pieces and kept it in the freezer. It was messy to make but it's good.

 

[AnnieClaus]

Jampss and Holiday_Mom-Thank you for the ideas!
Jody- I wonder if the greek yogurt with a bit of jam may help with the sweet tooth craving.
I have that at the end of the day too. Just want a little "dessert" feeling.

I have to be very careful with portion control.
For ex: A whole container of nuts- I'll pick at it all day until it's gone.

Pre-portioning the snacks is exactly what I need to do!

Annie

 

[Miss JoDee]

Jampss and Holiday_Mom-Thank you for the ideas!
Jody- I wonder if the greek yogurt with a bit of jam may help with the sweet tooth craving.
I have that at the end of the day too. Just want a little "dessert" feeling.

I have to be very careful with portion control.
For ex: A whole container of nuts- I'll pick at it all day until it's gone.

Pre-portioning the snacks is exactly what I need to do!

Annie

I have recently learned that I must be very careful with dairy. I seemed to have developed an intolerance. I enjoy both Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. I have switched to nut milk.

 

[Ahorsesoul]

I am working on getting my protein intake up to where it should be. Never have drank a protein shake before today. Was pretty good. Of course it was coffee flavored so that helped. And now I have my Dh putting a cup of Fairlife milk into my protein shake in the morning to up my numbers. Will see if my cholesterol goes it. It did years ago when I was drinking some milk. I never drink just a glass of milk. Didn’t like it as a kid either. Need to be up to 100g+ daily.

 

[AnnieClaus]

Jody- I thought about you at the grocery store.
I found the rice cakes. Nice variety of flavors.
I picked Apple & Cinnamon and Chocolate.
Thought the Chocolate with a bit of peanut butter may give the feel of like
a Reese's peanut butter cup.
May be a nice dessert!

Mary- I told another friend how you do the greek yogurt with a bit of jam.

Diedra- I need to work on protein as well.

Annie

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Pre-portioning the snacks is exactly what I need to do!

Pre-portioning made me realize how much a half a cup really looks like. I have been doing non-fat Greek yogurt, non-fat milk and low-fat cottage cheese for a number of years now. I need my calcium and Vit. D for my bones. I just don't need the cholesterol.

I would eat peanuts all night. I could do the same with popcorn. Then I portioned them out according to serving size. I was eating way more than the serving size.

I have recently learned that I must be very careful with dairy. I seemed to have developed an intolerance. I enjoy both Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. I have switched to nut milk.

My dd is lactose intolerant and has a nut allergy. She buys Fage Lactose Free plain Greek Yogurt. It is pricy but it is the only one we can find around here. Cabot Cheese makes a number of types of Lactose Free cheese. You just need to read the front labels carefully. Lactaid makes a lactose free cottage cheese. A lot of stores are carrying their own brand of lactose free milk. Wegmans (on the East Coast) carries their brand of lactose free ice cream for about the same price as other non-lactose free ice cream brands.

 

[Miss JoDee]

My dd is lactose intolerant and has a nut allergy. She buys Fage Lactose Free plain Greek Yogurt. It is pricy but it is the only one we can find around here. Cabot Cheese makes a number of types of Lactose Free cheese. You just need to read the front labels carefully. Lactaid makes a lactose free cottage cheese. A lot of stores are carrying their own brand of lactose free milk. Wegmans (on the East Coast) carries their brand of lactose free ice cream for about the same price as other non-lactose free ice cream brands.

Oh, this gives me hope. Good information. It is a recent discovery, so I have not searched for lactose-free items yet.

 

[Ahorsesoul]

I have recently learned that I must be very careful with dairy. I seemed to have developed an intolerance. I enjoy both Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. I have switched to nut milk.

There are Lactase drops that break down the lactose so you can drink regular milk. And pills you can take to help digest dairy products.

 

[Miss JoDee]

There are Lactase drops that break down the lactose so you can drink regular milk. And pills you can take to help digest dairy products.

Yes, I have the pills. I just need to remember to take it as this is a new awareness.